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Noble County offers fun activities to bring you closer to nature

This area of Indiana is perfect to help you get in touch with nature. Gary Gatman, board president of Noble County CVB joined us today to tell us all about the fun the area has to offer.

Located 19 miles northwest of Fort Wayne right along Indiana State Road 9 in Noble County, Chain O’ Lakes State Park is a unique geological area encompassing 2,718 acres, about 700 acres of which are water. Chain O’ Lakes offers 416 camp sites, 4 canoe camping sites, a rally camp area, youth tent area, and 3 reservable picnic shelters. There are also 18 forested hillside family cabins which sleep 6 people each. 

For activities, the park has a Historic 1915 One Room Schoolhouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is also a beach swimming area and a Boat Rental. The park boasts 12 trails covering 29 miles. These trails vary in difficulty and traverse a variety of habitats within the park, including wooded forest, restored prairie, and the many miles of lakeshore. 

There are 13 lakes total in the park, all of which are kettle lakes, formed by receding glacial ice sheets during the Pleistocene Epoch. Nine of these lakes are connected and provide an excellent paddle trail, thus the creation of the “9 Lake Challenge”!

The 9 Lake Challenge will take you 5 miles across the park via nine connected kettle lakes. Enjoy the natural landscape from the unique vantage point of your boat. You can bring your own boat or rent one at the park’s Boat Rental. Download or pick up a paddle map to guide you, take pictures along the way at the nine designated locations, and then show your photos to the staff at park headquarters. Upon completion, get a free sticker and purchase your 9 Lake Challenge merchandise. Then you can officially say I PADDLED THE CHAIN!

No matter which activity you enjoy while visiting, there are plenty of opportunities to relax and rejuvenate in nature here. With 9 connected lakes and 29 miles of trails to explore, Chain O’ Lakes State Park is a small boater’s paradise and a hiker’s haven, where YOU can make Memories Made Naturally. 

For more information visit, visitnoblecounty.com.

THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY VISIT NOBLE COUNTY.